Twins take MHS' Wilson in 6th round
Len Hayward
Midland Reporter-Telegram
06/08/2005
The first thing J.W. Wilson did after receiving the call that he had been selected in the sixth round by the Minnesota Twins in the 2005 Major League Baseball Entry Draft was take a trip to Midland Park Mall.
His purpose was to buy a Twins hat to wear for the interviews he knew was coming. But it was also a symbol to show that the next step of his baseball career is just around the corner. Wilson was the 195th pick by the Twins in the first day of the 2005 draft.
Even though Wilson said he was not for sure whether he would forego playing baseball at Texas Tech, his words pointed toward him beginning his professional career sooner rather than later.
"This is what I've always wanted to do is play professional baseball," Wilson said. "It's hard to turn down and I think more than likely I'm going with the Twins. I feel this is the right thing to do."
Wilson, a first-team All-District 3-5A outfielder in 2005 and two-sport athlete for the Bulldogs, signed with the Red Raiders during the fall but knew his status as a top draft choice was possible.
Wilson said on Tuesday that he was intently keeping up with the draft via the Internet, and during the fifth round, he started receiving phone calls from various clubs, including the Twins.
Along with the Twins, the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers also called Wilson to tell him there was a possibility he could go in the fifth round.
Then he saw his name pop up on the Major League Baseball's draft Web site in the sixth round.
"It was about five minutes later I got the phone call and they congratulated me," said Wilson, who hit .366 with five home runs and 20 runs scored during the 2005 District 3-5A baseball season.
Midland High coach Barry Russell said he was not surprised that the Twins selected Wilson, saying that a Twins scout saw the Bulldogs play at least 15 times this season.
"He sounded pretty excited when I talked to him," said Russell, who was on a fishing trip in Colorado the last few days. "He's such a good athlete and he was great to teach and coach."
Wilson said he is likely to make his final decision as soon as possible and that he had not talked to Tech baseball coach Larry Hays.
The Twins faxed Wilson a basic contract on Tuesday night, he said. He added he is not looking for a particular signing bonus and he is advised by the same agent, Don Mitchell, that is representing brothers Laynce and Jayson Nix.
"The Minnesota Twins have one of the best minor league organizations you can find," Wilson said. "It's not going to be that tough of a decision for me really."
Wilson continues a recent line of Midland High School players taken in the early rounds of the major league baseball draft. Jayson Nix was the last area player taken high in the draft as a compensatory pick between the first and second rounds of the 2001 draft by the Colorado Rockies.
"It's everything you've worked for and it finally pays off," Wilson said. "It's just a blessing."
Sports Writer Oscar LeRoy contributed to this report
Len Hayward
Midland Reporter-Telegram
06/08/2005
The first thing J.W. Wilson did after receiving the call that he had been selected in the sixth round by the Minnesota Twins in the 2005 Major League Baseball Entry Draft was take a trip to Midland Park Mall.
His purpose was to buy a Twins hat to wear for the interviews he knew was coming. But it was also a symbol to show that the next step of his baseball career is just around the corner. Wilson was the 195th pick by the Twins in the first day of the 2005 draft.
Even though Wilson said he was not for sure whether he would forego playing baseball at Texas Tech, his words pointed toward him beginning his professional career sooner rather than later.
"This is what I've always wanted to do is play professional baseball," Wilson said. "It's hard to turn down and I think more than likely I'm going with the Twins. I feel this is the right thing to do."
Wilson, a first-team All-District 3-5A outfielder in 2005 and two-sport athlete for the Bulldogs, signed with the Red Raiders during the fall but knew his status as a top draft choice was possible.
Wilson said on Tuesday that he was intently keeping up with the draft via the Internet, and during the fifth round, he started receiving phone calls from various clubs, including the Twins.
Along with the Twins, the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers also called Wilson to tell him there was a possibility he could go in the fifth round.
Then he saw his name pop up on the Major League Baseball's draft Web site in the sixth round.
"It was about five minutes later I got the phone call and they congratulated me," said Wilson, who hit .366 with five home runs and 20 runs scored during the 2005 District 3-5A baseball season.
Midland High coach Barry Russell said he was not surprised that the Twins selected Wilson, saying that a Twins scout saw the Bulldogs play at least 15 times this season.
"He sounded pretty excited when I talked to him," said Russell, who was on a fishing trip in Colorado the last few days. "He's such a good athlete and he was great to teach and coach."
Wilson said he is likely to make his final decision as soon as possible and that he had not talked to Tech baseball coach Larry Hays.
The Twins faxed Wilson a basic contract on Tuesday night, he said. He added he is not looking for a particular signing bonus and he is advised by the same agent, Don Mitchell, that is representing brothers Laynce and Jayson Nix.
"The Minnesota Twins have one of the best minor league organizations you can find," Wilson said. "It's not going to be that tough of a decision for me really."
Wilson continues a recent line of Midland High School players taken in the early rounds of the major league baseball draft. Jayson Nix was the last area player taken high in the draft as a compensatory pick between the first and second rounds of the 2001 draft by the Colorado Rockies.
"It's everything you've worked for and it finally pays off," Wilson said. "It's just a blessing."
Sports Writer Oscar LeRoy contributed to this report
